While turned off by typically overboard, American application of an otherwise worthy ideal, I was set to thinking by a quote from Bob Torress, a US sociology professor, who thinks that environmentalism “is becoming this issue of, consume the right set of green goods and you’re green, regardless of how many resources are used to distribute and manufacture the goods.” He also added that “If you ask the average person what can you do to reduce global warming, they’d say buy a Prius.”

With the recent spike in oil prices driving American retailers like Home Depot to offer environmentally-friendly products like a so-called “green chainsaw,” one has to wonder if Japan will not be far behind. I do think Japan is seeing a more determined shift to greener policies. A new law enacted in April mandates reduced packaging on consumer goods and offers retailers incentives for cutting the use of plastic bags. But at the same time, we also see greater media attention devoted to the logical backlash of somewhat misguided environmental policies.

Take Kunihiko Takeda, a professor at Nagoya University who made a big splash with his recent best-seller “The Lie of An Environmental Problem” (Kankyo Mondai wa Naze Uso Ga Makari Tooru no Ka, Senyosha). Takeda makes some startling claims – for example, that recycling certain products (such as PET bottles) actually generates more energy waste than it saves due to high costs and limited uses for the recycled plastic. He also states that reducing the use of plastic bags for packaging will actually hurt the environment, as purchases of new “reusable” cloth, plastic, and other bags will consume more resources than would have been spared. While controversial, Takeda agrees with the freegans in one aspect — that the most responsible thing for a consumer to do is to use what s/he already has for as long as possible, without buying new.

After much consideration, I think I agree. Forgoing the purchase of a canned drink from a vending machine and having a cup of barley tea at home is certainly cheaper, and more environmentally friendly, than buying that drink and recycling the can. Finding ways to reuse or redistribute items already in the “consumer food chain” is better than buying something new, even if it is cheap. In fact, one could contend that while the advent of a global manufacturing and distribution networks has cut prices and brought material prosperity, it has also cheapened goods to a dangerous level.

I remember being so happy when Uniqlo and Daiso brought cheap, quality items to consumers in Japan, but now I wonder if we haven’t gone too far. Maybe we should pay a little more for a little less, and use it longer. I’ll focus on more specific ways we can do this in a future issue, but for now, I challenge you to give this philosophy a try. While you certainly don’t have to go around foraging like a fanatical Freegan, try and think of ways you can simply ‘buy’ or ‘consume’ less. Any great suggestions? Contact us!

© 2007 Wendy J. Imura.

Kuru Kuru Plaza is the official name for the Suita City Resource Recycle Center. The Center’s stated goals are: “to promote reducing garbage, recycling, and reusing by developing bicycle/household goods repair and advice [sic], citizen studios for making recycled goods, clothing remodeling, etc. classes, lectures, events, and research events by citizen researchers.”

The facility features a “giving and receiving corner,” where things no longer used in a household but still useful(books, clothing, other items) can be brought in and taken home by people who have a need for them. The center is open daily from 9:30-4:30, and visitors are limited to ten “takeaway items” each. The corner appears to be very well used: in 2004 alone, some 131,213 items were brought in, while 113,881 items were taken home. Crafts (postcards, clothing, etc.) made from recycled items are sold at the studio where they are made. Abandoned bicycles are refurbished on-site and sold by lottery (closed auction system) on the 16th of every month.

Finally, every year the center holds a large fair where refurbished bicycles and furniture are sold by the same lottery system. Old or unwanted furniture is brought to the center, cleaned, stripped, and revarnished, and then put up for auction. My friends reported that a large crowd of Japanese and foreign visitors attended the auction, and they (as well as many others) walked away with beautiful, high-quality furniture for a fraction of what it might have cost otherwise. The next Kuru Kuru Plaza fair will be held in October 2005.

(See http://www.gcn-osaka.jp/recycle/rg01-03-01.html for information in English, call for information on the date of the latest fair.)

Don’t live near Osaka? Don’t despair – there are a number of these facilities of various types throughout Japan. I compiled a partial list of links to those in major metropolitan areas below. Most welcome the participation of local citizens. If you want to search on your own, ask your local city government about a nearby “shigen saisei sentaa” (resource renewal center), “riisaikuru senntaa” (recycle center), or “shimin risaikuru center” (local recycling center). Regrettably, most websites are currently in Japanese only.

Hakodate Recycle Center (refurbished bikes, furniture sold)
http://www.city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp/kankyoh/recy-center

Niigata Eco Plaza
http://www.city.niigata.niigata.jp/info/eco_plaza/1f.html (Ed’s note: Link no longer valid.)
*Offers small refurbishing workshop, recycle shop, and furniture corner

Tokyo Adachi-Ku Recycle Center
http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~arc.org/

Funabashi-shi Saisei Center
http://www.kankyo-f.or.jp/main/saisei.html
*Nice looking used furniture mart, baby/children’s clothing center

Kamakura Recycle Suishin Kaigi
http://www1.kamakuranet.ne.jp/recycle/index.html
*Sponsors flea market 5x a year, also offers classes.

Nagoya City Recycling Promotion Center
http://www.nagoya-recycle.or.jp/index2.htm
*Offers refurbished bicycles, furniture fairs, recycle shop

Mino, Osaka Recycle Center/Citizen Workshops
http://www2.city.minoh.osaka.jp/SEIBI/siminn.html (Ed’s note: Link no longer valid.)

As both a place to locate cheap, high-quality furniture and goods, as well as a place to get rid of unwanted items, these centers are worth checking out!

PS: The above list is by no means complete. The facilities go by different names in different localities, and some private companies or recycling plants also use the katakana name “riisaikuru sentaa,” so be careful in your search.

© 2005 Wendy J. Imura.

Why? Well, living in Japan (particularly urban Japan) presents three unique challenges: 1) a lack of storage and living space, 2) expense, and 3) complex/difficult procedures for getting rid of used items and trash. How many of you have stuff crammed into every nook and corner of your sliding door ‘fusuma’ closets? Or have had to PAY someone to take your used furniture and somewhat large garbage away (in many cities, this is the case)? I’m guessing I’m not alone in answering ‘yes.’ But adjusting your lifestyle to one focused on the new 3Rs can make things a lot easier.

First, recycling. I’m not just talking about cans, bottles, and newspapers here (though you should be doing this already). Are clothing, books, CDs, DVDs, electronic appliances, or anything else gathering dust in your apartment? Anything you haven’t used, read, or worn in 18 months or more, but is still in good condition? Why are you holding on to it? Unless it’s got memorial or financial value, wouldn’t it be better to pass that item on to someone who could use it? Try recycling online (See: FreeStuff Japan) or at a flea market, organize a swap meet, or just ask around on an online group if someone can use something for free. If you have a large number of items (20 English-language books or 10-15 items of children’s clothing), try offering the items as a bundled group: people are more willing to take it that way.

Another tip: if your old clothing, towels, sheets, books/papers, dishes, and glassware are really beyond hope and you need to trash them, try asking your neighbors when the next “haihin kaishu” (recyclable item) collection day is. Although there is usually only one collection day a month, local elementary schools and children’s welfare associations collect the used items and sell them. The proceeds are used to stage festivals, improve local playground equipment, and to fund similar things. It’s worth asking!

Next, reducing. Before purchasing something new or on a whim (or even accepting someone’s old items), ask yourself: “Do I really need this?” “Do I have space for it?” If the answer is ‘no’ or ‘maybe not,’ then perhaps you should put off the purchase. If you really, really want the item, then why not get rid of something (or two things!) first before buying something else? You both free up space in your apartment or house, and (in the end) might save some money. Trips home are particularly dangerous: many of us (myself included) stock on clothing, shoes, books, and other things while visiting our homelands, only to arrive back with tons of new stuff and nowhere to put it! The next time you travel home, think carefully about what you’ll bring back.

Finally, reusing. This is an area where I am really trying to improve, but there are many ‘hidden’ ways you can reuse items you already own. Making your own household cleaners, and using old spray bottles from commercial cleaners, is a good place to start. Old T-shirts, boxer shorts, cloth diapers (relatively clean ones!), sheets, and towels can be cut into square rags and used for ‘zokin’ or dust rags. The backside of old calendars, newspaper inserts, and junk mail makes great notepaper, children’s drawing paper, and even wrapping paper for presents sent overseas. Even the free tissues packets you get outside of Japanese stations can be ‘repackaged’ in reusable tissue boxes or covers. In this category, your creativity and ingenuity are often the best resources. Be sure and share some good “reusing” tips with us at Frugal Watch as well!

In the next week, why not devote some time to thinking about how you can apply the new ‘3Rs’ in your life? While it might require more time and effort, in the end I think the rewards are well worth it.

© 2005 Wendy J. Imura.

Enjoy recycle shops? Traditionally, these frugal treasure troves can be rather hard to find, as they are usually tucked away in small shops or suburban locations.

However, you should try visiting Green Marche, Japan’s first recycling mall, in Odaiba. The mall features 32 recycle shops offering a variety of goods, including clothes, electric appliances, furniture and more. Green Marche is located only two minutes on foot from the Telecom Center Station on the Yurikomamome Line near Odaiba. Open daily from 10am to 9pm, call 03-3599-3939 for more information, or check out the website (Japanese only).

Enjoy!

The first is Freecycle Japan. “Freecycling” is a combination of the words ‘free’ and ‘recycle,’ and the Freecycle Japan list provides a place where members can list items of any sort they are seeking or wish to give away, barter, or exchange. There are only two conditions: 1) that the items be free, and 2) that the item be shippable within or to Japan. (Note that the name of this list was changed to FreeStuff Japan in 2008.)

Ideas could include clothing, CDs, books, furniture — anything is possible. After the initial listing, all transactions take place between individuals offlist.

To subscribe, send an email to: freecyclejapan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

The second list is Tell and Sell Japan. Tell and Sell Japan is for people living in Japan who want to sell, buy, trade or give away new or gently used merchandise and other personal items such as:

-Brand new items ordered from overseas, but the size/style/color was wrong
-Quality clothes for special occasions you have worn only once or twice, a formal dress, suit, etc.
-Maternity clothes, or outgrown babies’ or children’s clothes
-Unwanted gift items, unused cosmetics, etc.

So this is the ideal time to start clearing out your closets! TELL everyone what you have, then SELL it!

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

The end of March is also a wonderful time for finding great deals on home furnishings and other goodies from “sayonara sales” and general spring cleaning. But this time of year also finds many people becoming extremely motivated sellers. There is a panicky feeling that descends as the movers start wondering how on earth they will empty their entire apartments in a week’s time. Carefully orchestrated plans to sell off furniture to the highest bidder become a wild scramble to unload anything on anyone who will take it. The two takers of last resort – recycle shops and the ’sodai gomi’
(large refuse) collection agencies – are often found to be less help than one might expect. Recycle shops can refuse to take belongings if they are overstocked, or might even charge you to dispose of your items. The large refuse collection agencies at local city or ward offices also often only make stops once every week, which is inconvenient if you plan on moving before then. In the midst of a busy international move, disposing of items can certainly be a challenge.

Selling or giving your items away to other foreigners living in Japan is a great way to empty your apartment. Planning several months in advance as to what you will sell, and how and when you will sell it, will also be a help. There are several community resources around Tokyo that can help you.
A well-known place to start is by placing an ad in Metropolis, advertising a “sayonara sale”. Posting a notice at a public board (such as the bulletin boards at the National Azabu grocery store in Hiroo) is also a great way to get the word out. Are you a member of any online communities or ex-pat focused organizations in Japan? Advertise your for-sale items on mailing lists or in publications for these groups if it’s allowed — expanding your target audience is bound to improve the chances of your items getting noticed.

Here are a few tips for organizing an effective sayonara sale. Many people find that creating a simple web page, including photos and prices of the items you wish to sell, can expedite the selling process. Another important factor is pricing items to sell. While some unique or expensive items (such as luxury goods, collectors’ items, brand new electronics, or antiques) might be worth close to their original price, most average household goods and electronics should be priced low enough to move. My general rule of thumb is 20-40% of the original sale price, and I’ve never had a problem quickly selling items. Really – is the goal of the sayonara sale to make money, or to get rid of your stuff in time for your move? Finally, be honest in your item descriptions – note if there is any wear or damage to the item. It is unlikely that curtains used for three years in a Tokyo apartment are “as new!”

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.

Ed’s note: The Tell and Sell Japan mailing list is a perfect place to stage your sayonara sales these days. And if you aren’t planning on leaving anytime soon, you can benefit from some nice bargains through the group.

The best way to enjoy a Japanese flea market is to go with an open mind and an eye for “buried treasure.” You might find collectibles, old clothing, and even antiques, sometimes for a good price. Bring
loose change (lots of hundred yen coins), bags for carting items home in, and be prepared to come early – the good stuff goes fast.

Conversely, arriving 30 minute before closing might also produce some good bargains from picked-through (soiled) merchandise. Check this website for the “mother lode” of flea market information, in Japanese. For an excellent guide in English, check this one.

Happy shopping!

© 2004 Wendy J. Imura.